by Bashmachkin Mon Sep 24, 2007 2:22 pm
I think defensive midfielders have such a reputation for being unsung, for having to do a teams dirty work, that they actually often receive too much praise and are even endowed with a mystical sort of quality, whereby they are considered essential to a teams play even when they dont actually do much on the pitch. They are regarded as key components in teams, players who nevertheless do a sort of invisible role, that is only discernible on close observation, and so they can do nothing in a game and yet they are still praised because their role doesnt require any stand-out play - and at the same time it becomes fashionable to praise these players because it supposedly shows close attention and understanding.
Of course, the best defensive midfielders are very talented, they can read the game excellently and pass the ball well to become deep-lying playmakers, building their teams' moves. Then you also have all-action types like Essien, who get forward too at times, who have lots of stamina. But you have a lesser branch of defensive midfielder who simply passes the ball five yards in whatever direction hes facing at the time, and who trips and obstructs rather than intercepts - and this lesser branch has, I think, one of the easiest jobs on the pitch, can simply sit deep and get in the way of the opposition and thats considered their job done.
I think Lrd has a good point in that, if youre playing in central midfield, you have to be aware of everything going on around the pitch, have to face opposition coming from all sides whilst being aware of teammates on either side so as to make the best pass. I think the modern winger also has it quite difficult in that they, often more than the full backs even, have to run up and down the pitch; have to be skillful enough to create at one end yet still need to track back and show some defensive qualities. Laurent Robert at Newcastle, for instance, was regularly slaughtered by the fans, by his managers and by the press for not tracking back enough, despite the fact he was regularly our main goalscoring midfielder, offered a constant threat from set pieces and provided a lot of assists. I do think football is becoming more defensive, and so central midfielders are often required to attack less, whilst wingers are expected to provide a teams edge whilst still covering in defence.
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